BERNADETTE P. HERNANDEZ, RN, BSN, MSHCA
Mission, Texas 78572
********@***.***
QUALIFICATIONS:
• 28 years of clinical practice in critical care, emergency, and trauma.
• 25 years of nursing leadership.
• Experience in hospital operations in LTAC setting
• Consistently developed programs, implemented, and educated staff to
maintain quality and safe care in all settings.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
1974 – 1979 University of Santo Tomas Manila, Philippines
Post Graduate Studies in Cardio-Vascular Nursing
1979 – 1980 Philippine Heart Center for Asia Quezon City, Philippines
Master of Science in Health Care Administration
2003 – 2005 Bellevue University Omaha, Nebraska GPA: 3.95
Professional Experience
Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer
Ernest Health Laredo Specialty Hospital (60 Beds)
Laredo, Texas
March 2010 to Present
Initiated team building and team concept approach to patient care (95% success
rate)
Initiated accountability among each clinical discipline in respect to hours, cost
effectiveness, and compliance to standards of care.
Follow –up staff compliance to service excellence (consistent 98% Patient
satisfaction Survey)
Developed and implemented clinical and nonclinical staff development program
for the facility.
NHPPD stabilized to 8.5 (standard 10.5 for the company).
#1 in achieving clinical salaries/wages/benefits budget goals among 8 LTACH
facilities in Ernest Health.
Improved customer satisfaction to “very satisfied” meeting benchmark 95% and >
Improved staff knowledge to Joint Commission Standards and CMS Condition of
Participation through ongoing education and follow up of outcomes.
Zero deficiency on Patient Care, Treatment, and Services 2012 Joint
Commission Survey
Zero deficiency Joint Commission Laboratory Survey 2012
Staff retention and became the employer of choice for both licensed and non-
licensed employees in the community. Clinical turnover rate <4%.
Assistant Administrator/Director of Nursing
Solara Hospitals McAllen and Edinburg (78 Beds)
McAllen and Edinburg, Texas
January 2007 to February 2010
Implemented team concept approach to patient care with good outcomes
Initiated staff development program for the facility to improve clinical
performance and outcomes (95% success rate)
Responsible for facility budget. Clinical (Nursing, RT, Rehab, Food and Nutrition
Services, Pharmacy) HPPD consistently met budget. Improved accountability in
supply charges.
Cost containment (95% success rate)
Responsible for collaboration with hospital leaders, physicians, and other team
members to meet performance requirements and regulatory standards.
Decreased incremental overtime thereby improving HPPD.
Clinical turn over rate <10%.
Stat Agency Nursing
San Benito, Texas
Agency Nurse
Nov. 2006 to January 2007
Fill needs for an RN in an acute care facility for the ED/ICU department.
Director Emergency Services
Valley Regional Medical Center (214 Beds)
Brownsville, Texas
2001 to Nov. 2006
Developed and implemented multiple level of education/in-service for all non-licensed and licensed
ED staff, including ED Physicians, for all ED Initiatives required by HCA, JCAHO, ENA, CMS,
and ACEP.
• Acute Coronary Syndrome Registry through the Sullivan Group.
• National Patient Safety Goals.
• Core Measures (Chest Pain and Pneumonia compliance rate very
satisfactory, second best in HCA Western Group Division).
• ED Dashboard.
• Triage First Training Phase I and II.
• ED Throughput to decrease ED overcrowding.
• QMP/MSE Process – appropriate Triage Level for patient placement in
the ED.
• Point of Use (POU) – consistent 98% compliance for supply charging.
• EMTALA.
• EDM project.
ED staff stabilization through education and firm and sensitive leadership.
Initiated and developed GN transition to ED setting. Obtained 95% success rate.
Responsible for meeting the goal for PLUS through staff flexing and continuous monitoring of hours
in relationship with department activities.
Decreased ED LPT and LPMSE from 7.5% to 3% through communication, and reassessment
process.
Assisted COO with “Partners in Care” concept to improve teamwork, turn around time thereby
increasing patient and employee satisfaction.
Clinical Manager Emergency Department
2000 – 2001
Responsible for daily staffing and time management, clinical update for all ED staff, monthly
department meeting, and performance evaluation of ED staff.
Responsible for completion of required chart audit for the department.
Assisted the department director in meeting the budget and preparing for the new fiscal year.
Charge Nurse Emergency Department 1999 – 2000
Responsible for the shift assignment and activities of the department.
Assisted the department leaders with required performance improvement for the ED.
Preceptor for all new staff.
Case Manager Critical Care Areas, Resource Management 1998 – 1999
Clinical pathway for all critical care patients; initial and concurrent review with insurance
companies; assisted patients/families with appropriate placement and DME needs; assisted
patient/family with Advance Directive and DNR; case conference for each unit once a week.
Tenet – Brownsville Medical Center (250 Beds) Brownsville, Texas
Case Manager Home Health 1997 – 1998
Certified and re-certified patients for Home Health care needs; led case conference once a week;
reviewed case to case basis with referring physician; educational in-service rendered to field
licensed staff; assisted with performance evaluation of staff.
Director Medical, Surgical, and Telemetry (PCU) 1995 – 1997
Managed 3 departments with a total of 150 staff.
Team lead in redesigning of skill mix changes, supply cost reduction, and increased staffing
efficiencies.
Developed and implemented staff development program that improved quality patient care.
Responsible for the implementation and achievement of the department budget for all three areas.
Director Emergency Services 1987 – 1995
Provided health care education to patients/families with diverse understanding and practice of health
care.
Mentored new graduate nurses for success.
Developed programs that increased staff satisfaction resulting in staff retention.
Responsible for the control and effective utilization of physical and financial resources for the
department. Prepared capital budget.
Valley Baptist Medical Center (300 Beds) Harlingen, Texas
Charge Nurse – SICU/CVICU 1983 – 1987
Performed clinical practice on open-heart patients, critical surgical patients, multi-trauma, and
critical GI bleeders.
Led the clinical update of staff through staff development program.
Assisted in quality assurance compliance, unit budget, and cost containment.
Lifemark – Brownsville Medical Center (150 Beds) Brownsville, Texas
Charge Nurse ICU/CCU 1982 – 1983
Performed clinical practice on all medical/surgical/coronary critical patients.
Preceptor for all new staff.
Philippine Heart Center for Asia (500 Beds) Quezon City, Philippines
Educator/Lead Charge Nurse Pediatric ICU 1980 – 1982
Chairperson education committee and hospital staff development.
Clinical practice on all pediatric with congenital heart anomalies (medical and post open heart).
Participated with physicians and nursing grand rounds once a month.
Preceptor for new staff.
Certification:
BLS 01/2014
ACLS 01/2014